BackgroundRoad accidents are among the main causes of mortality. As safe and secure driving is a key strategy to reduce car injuries and offenses, the present research aimed to explore safe driving behaviours among taxi drivers based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).MethodsThis study was conducted on 184 taxi drivers in Bandar Abbas who were selected based on a multiple stratified sampling method. Data were collected by a questionnaire comprised of a demographic information section along with the constructs of the HBM. Data were analysed by SPSS ver19 via a Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regressions.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 45.1 years (SD = 11.1). They all had, on average, 10.3 (SD = 7/5) years of taxi driving experience. Among the HBM components, cues to action and perceived benefits were shown to be positively correlated with safe driving behaviours, while perceived barriers were negatively correlated. Cues to action, perceived barriers and perceived benefits were shown to be the strongest predictors of a safe drivers’ behaviour.ConclusionsBased on the results of this study in designing health promotion programmes to improve safe driving behaviours among taxi drivers, cues to action, perceived benefits and perceived barriers are important. Therefore, advertising, the design of information campaigns, emphasis on the benefits of safe driving behaviours and modification barriers are recommended.

Background and aimIt has been revealed that taxi drivers break more traffic rules than ordinary drivers. Such risky behaviors include stopping at prohibited areas and sudden change of direction. The present study aimed to determine the Risky Behaviors of Taxi Drivers in Bandar Abbas, IranMethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 184 taxi drivers were randomly selected from eight taxi stations located at different parts of Bandar Abbas city in 2016. Taxi drivers’ risky behaviors were evaluated via a 20-item questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 19, using descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-test. The p-values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe mean age of the drivers was 45.1 (±11.1) years. The mean of their occupational experience was 18.7 (±10.8) years. The risky behaviors which showed the highest frequency were respectively, failure to use signal-lights, driving too close to the cars in front, refusing to drive within the lanes and erratic lane changing.The lowest frequency belonged to running a red light, ignoring ‘no entry’ signs and taking illegal U-turns. Risky driving behaviors were shown to be significantly more prevalent among drivers with previous experience of crashes or tickets than drivers with no such experiences (p<0.01).ConclusionIncreasing the role of police supervision for the strict implementation of driving laws, and modification of the drivers’ behavior and implementation of periodic training programs on drivers’ safety issues can be considered for reducing taxi drivers’ unsafe behaviors.

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Background: High-risk driving behaviors is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of educational intervention on promoting safe-driving behaviors and reducing high risk-driving behaviors in taxi drivers based on the health belief model and planned behavior theory. Methods: A quasi-experimental study of interventional and control drivers (n = 40) selected by a cluster sampling method was conducted. The participants were selected from taxi stations. The intervention group was divided into 4 groups, including 10 people. The contents of the training program were based on driving laws, avoiding high-risk behaviors, and advising on safe driving behaviors. The driving behaviors were measured at baseline and 3-month post-intervention. Constructs of the health belief model and theory of planned behavior were used as an interventional program framework. Independent t-test and Paired t-test were used to compare the scores between intervention and control drivers and the intervention group before and after the intervention at each of the variables, respectively. Results: Three months post-intervention, the scores of safe driving behaviors in the intervention group were higher than the control group, and high-risk driving behaviors in the intervention group were less than the control group. After the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the mean scores of perceived barriers, self-efficacy, cues to action, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control between two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Educational intervention within the framework of the combined constructs of the health belief model and theory of planned behavior can reduce high-risk driving behaviors and promote safe driving behaviors in taxi drivers.